Communication recording system



Dec. 5, 1939. F. A. KIERNAN COMMUNICATION RECORDING SYSTEM Filed March 18, 1938 //\/4/=/\/7-7/=' FRANK A. (\ERNAN 4 En 4" TERA/E and particularly to communication recording sys- Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,182,632 COMMUNICATION RECORDING SYSTEM Frank A. Kiel'nan, Portland, Oreg.

Application March 18, 1938, Serial No. 196,688

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to aviation,

tems.

The main object of this invention is the provision of a recording system whereby signals and messages sent between an airplane and. the ground may be recorded in chronological order and sounds from the cockpit and ground control room may be recorded in conjunction with the,

signals and messages passing between such points. The second object is to afford a definite and positive check on the communication system be-- tween the airplane and the ground making it possible to determine the exact time and conditions under which a ship failed or an accident occurred.

The third object is to afford a means for controlling the conduct of its pilots and attendants.

The fourth object is the construction of the device described which will bear a permanent record of the communication during a given flight and in the manner that such record will not be destroyed even though the plane be burned or wrecked.

These, and other objects, will become more ap- .parent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of the cockpit showing the relative positions of the various elements.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the recording unit Showing a portion thereof broken away in section to disclose the elements therein.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of a representative form of the system with the antenna and other details omitted for the purpose of simplifying the drawing.

Similar numerals refer throughout the several views.

Referrin in detail to the drawing, there is shown a cockpit it on whose floor i i are mounted the chairs i2 for the pilots 53. Each pilot ii is equipped with a microphone mouthpiece id by means of which he can send messages to the ground station over the antenna i5 through the usual broadcasting system not shown. Each mouthpiece i has attached thereto a microphone i lA. Each pilot i3 is provided with a set of earphones 56 to which is also attached a microphone ii. A larger microphone i8 is mounted overhead in the cockpit it).

In some convenient position, preferably under the floor it, is disposed the recording unit it in to similar parts which is disposed a time controlled motor 2b including an alarm hell 2% which will be sounded by the mechanism thereof at fixed intervals of a drum 23 contained within the casing 25. The

drum 23 has wound thereon a suitable sound recording wire 25, and the usual mechanism for magnetising the wire 25 for the purpose of impressing a sound record thereon is contained within the casing 24. A microphone 26 is also mounted within the unit l9.

The motor 20 is preferably of the spring wound type, although obviously any other means for driving same may be employed. It is desirable. however, to mount the motor 20 in a sep-' arate compartment 21, whereas the casing 2 3 is mounted in the compartment 28.

A suitable closure 29 is provided for the recording unit is. Suitable insulations 30 and BI are used in conjunction with the casing walls 32 of the recording unit' l9.

A source of power 33 and communicating wires 34 connect the various earphones l6 and microphones I l, ll, I8 and 26 with the recording unit it. v

The operation of the device is as follows:

When a signal or message is sent from a ground station to an airplane andreceived over the antenna l5 through the usual form of receiving ap= paratus, not shown, the message is delivered. through the earphones IE to the pilots l3. Not only does the pilot l3 hear this message, but it is picked up by the microphone l'land im- 30 pressed on the recording wire 25, the commonly accepted method being the'type employing magnetism.

If a pilot I3 speaks to the ground station through his microphone I4, the message is also recorded on the wire 25 by reason of the fact his'voice is picked up by the microphone lt-A.

It will be noted that the-motor 20 is continuous in its operation and that it intermittenly sounds the bell 2 l. The sound of the bell 2! is picked up by the microphone 26 and impressed on the wire various microphones a continuous record of sounds in the cockpit ill, including those originating from and delivered thereto and also the time intervals are indicated by the 1 intermittent sounding ofthe alarm bell 2| so that at any time thereafter a complete record is obtainable of messages sent between. the plane and the ground,

the time of sending, the sound of the operating motors and the exact time at which an accident may have occurred due to the fact that the microphones will cease to operate immediately upon crashing, and although the motor 2 9 may @5 continue to operate, no sound will be impressed bination eta head-set with a microphone attached to the head-set whereby sounds produced by said head-setwill be picked up by said microphone.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination 01' a head-set, a microphone attached to said head-set and a sound recording instrument connected to said microphone in a manner that a message delivered over said-head-set will be recorded on said sound recording instrument.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a head-set adapted to be worn by an aviator, a microphone mounted on said headset in a manner to pick up sounds delivered by said head-set, a sound recording instrument associated 'with said microphone and means for protecting said recording instrument against destruction by fire.

4. In a device 01 the class described, the combination of a telephone head-set with, a microphone associated with said head-set adapted to pick up messages delivered over said head-set or sounds produced within hearing range of said head-set and a recording instrument associated with said microphone adapted to record sounds occurring within range of said head-set.

FRANK A. KIERNAN. 20 

